Copper Face Jacks
Copper Face Jacks operates in the basement of the Jackson Court Hotel at 29-30 Harcourt Street and has been a fixture of Dublin nightlife since 1996. The venue reportedly generates more revenue per square meter than any other licensed premises in Ireland. The club occupies a large basement space with a main dance floor, multiple bars, and a layout that maximizes capacity at the expense of personal space. On peak nights, over 1,000 people pack in. The crowd is a cross-section of Dublin: GAA players, off-duty nurses and gardai, students, and visitors who have heard the name and want to see what the fuss is about. "Coppers" has transcended its function as a nightclub to become a genuine cultural institution, referenced in Irish comedy, music, and everyday conversation.
What to Expect
A hot, loud, packed basement with chart music at high volume. The dance floor is shoulder-to-shoulder. The bars are deep with people waiting. The smoking area is where you catch your breath. It's not subtle.
Chaotic, sweaty, unpretentious, and somehow irresistible. Love it or hate it, there's nothing else like it in Dublin.
Chart pop, dance hits, and Irish crowd-pleasers. The DJ reads the room and plays to it.
Smart casual minimum. Clean shoes, jeans or trousers, collared shirt for men. No sportswear, no trainers. Bouncers are selective.
Anyone wanting the quintessential Dublin night-out experience, people-watching, social nights in large groups
Cards accepted at bars. Cash also works and can be faster in the queue.
Price Range
Entry EUR 10-15, pint EUR 8-9, spirits and mixer EUR 9-11, shots EUR 5-7
Entry ~$11-16/~10-15 EUR, pint ~$9/~8.50 EUR
Hours
23:00-02:30 Mon-Thu, 23:00-03:30 Fri-Sat, closed Sun
Insider Tip
The queue gets serious after midnight on weekends; arrive by 11:30 PM. Bring photo ID even if you clearly look over 18. The smoking area out back is where most socializing happens between dance floor sessions.
Full Review
Trying to explain Copper Face Jacks to someone who hasn't been is like trying to explain a storm. You can describe the components, but the experience is something else.
The basement of the Jackson Court Hotel transforms on weekend nights into a heaving mass of humanity. The main dance floor is the epicenter, where chart hits and crowd-pleasers keep hundreds of people moving in a space that feels designed for half as many. The bars run along the walls, staffed by bartenders who pull pints and pour spirits with a speed born of necessity. You will wait for a drink. Accept it.
The smoking area is where Coppers actually happens. The conversations, the introductions, the connections that make this place famous all occur in the relative calm of the outdoor section. Inside is for dancing. Outside is for talking. Understanding this rhythm is key to understanding the venue.
The crowd is what makes Coppers unique. You'll find inter-county GAA players still buzzing from a match, groups of nurses on a midweek night off, guards (police) out of uniform, rural visitors up for the weekend, and international tourists who read about this place online. The complete absence of pretension is the point. Nobody is here to be seen. Everyone is here to have a night.
Is it glamorous? No. Is the music sophisticated? No. Are the drinks cheap? No. But Coppers delivers something that no amount of bottle service or velvet ropes can manufacture: genuine, unforced, slightly unhinged fun.
The Neighborhood
At the top of Harcourt Street, directly south of St Stephen's Green. Diceys and Krystle are within a one-minute walk. The Luas green line stop at St Stephen's Green is 200 meters north. Camden Street's bars and restaurants are a 5-minute walk west.
Getting There
The venue is at 29-30 Harcourt Street, in the Jackson Court Hotel basement. Walk south from St Stephen's Green (Luas green line) for 2 minutes. From Temple Bar, it's a 15-minute walk via Grafton Street and St Stephen's Green.
Address
29-30 Harcourt Street
Other Venues in Harcourt Street
Krystle
Upscale nightclub and bar at the Russell Court Hotel with a VIP area, bottle service, and a strict dress code. Attracts a well-dressed crowd and occasionally hosts celebrity appearances.
Diceys
Large, multi-room venue spread across several floors with cheap drinks, student-friendly pricing, and a beer garden. Three different rooms play pop, dance, and indie on any given night.
The Ginger Man
Traditional pub with a quieter atmosphere than the surrounding clubs. Dark wood interior, decent food menu during the day, and a crowd that skews slightly older than the student-dominated venues nearby.
Xico
Tequila and mezcal focused cocktail bar with Mexican-inspired decor. Small, dark, and atmospheric with skilled bartenders and a late-night crowd that skews toward cocktail enthusiasts.